Author: Carly Janelle Fant
Co-Authors: Leith Kusmider, Nic Sblano, Yaisy Tejada
There have been lingering tensions between the Catholic Church and the Socialist community in Venezuela. In 2011, approximately ninety percent of the Venezuelan population was Catholic, eight percent was protestant, and the remaining claimed to be atheists or practiced another religion (Roques 2011). These numbers are not far from what they are today.
On the twelfth of February 2017, Catholic worshipers attending mass inside their church located in Santa Fe, Caracas were disturbed by a small protest. Twenty people entered the church, the majority wearing red shirts, and began shouting insults at the clergy. Some of the men participating yelled out “Satan in a cassock” and “Fascist” to the clergy while others shouted “Chavez lives” (Cawthorne 2017).
Members of the Sante Fe church. Picture taken by Marco Bello on February 12, 2017.
It is believed that the group was attempting to honor the former president Hugo Chavez and a part of the Socialist Party. Archbishop Lopez argues that “Socialism has brought misery” to Venezuela (Cawthorne 2017).The Catholics worshipping were scared and shocked by the group barging into the church. Some were appalled by the disrespect shown from disturbing a mass and the name calling to the clergy members.
A speaker of the group argued “because the priests have spoken about politics, we have the right too” in response to the dismay (Cawthorne 2017). The leader of the Socialist group gave a speech denouncing the priests who have spoken against or have given a critical judgement against Nicolas Maduro’s government.
While some Catholics agree with their priests, others are prideful Chavistas. Some never forgave the church after they endorsed a pitsch against Chavez in 2002. Archbishop Lopez claims “there is already a bloodbath of considerable proportions in Venezuela” (Vasquez 2017).
Violence and turmoil during a Venezuelan protest. Picture taken by Diariocritico de Venezuela in January 2017.
Venezuela has been facing many cases of political unrest, public polarization and now these conflicts have made their way into the church. The church asks for the public to remain calm and handle this situation in peace (Cawthorne 2017).
Questions:
How much of the Venezuelan population consider themselves Catholic?
Who were the protestors attempting to honor while charging into the Venezuelan Church?
Works Cited
Cawthorne, Andrew. “Venezuela Catholic Church Feels Backlash After Chiding Socialists” (2017). Reuters. Web. 17 Feb. 2017.
Roques, Nala. “People of Venezuela“ (2011). Roques. Web. 17 Feb. 2017.
Vasquez, Gina. “Archbishop: There’s a ‘Blood Bath’ in Venezuela” (2017). EWTN. Web. 17 Feb. 2017